My parent went into Fiona Stanley for some tests recently but was kept in. My parent is in their 90s and has age-related dementia. This makes it difficult for all involved. My parent came in with infections on their feet and had one of their toes removed.
They are a high falls risk and cannot stand unassisted, yet at every ward and in the transit lounge we had to insist that my parent be helped to the bathroom and from beds to chairs. The staff all ask my parent if they can walk and they always say yes, but that is simply not the case and this angers me greatly.
When I went to visit them at lunchtime the next week, they had been discharged and staff told me my parent went back to the nursing home.
I then get a phone call from my partner a few hours later telling me that my parent is still there?
I finally tracked my parent down an hour later in the transit lounge. So when my parent was moved from Ward 4, they were transferred to the transit lounge and were not even dressed. Staff still had my parent in the open back hospital gown and they sat in the transit lounge very tired and confused for nearly 7 hours.
I was told that there was a change of plans and my parent would not be going home. It was not till another few hours that they were finally was allocated a bed and in reality, I believe they could have gone home and in familiar surroundings.
Once up on the ward 6B, because of my parent's age, dementia and COVID restrictions, we could not contact them. The ward phone rang out for two days and I was afraid that my parent was confused and scared and no one would help! When we finally got through to my parent, they could not operate the phone that is connected to the TV or could they hear us. There were apparently no nursing staff available to help my parent or us.
The experience that we had while my parent was in hospital was distressing and we understand that COVID restrictions complicate the matter.
I do not blame the staff. I know that they are doing the very best they can but, have to do just the basic necessities. In my opinion, this is no way to treat any patient especially our most vulnerable. I need to understand what I can do as an individual to help get the hospital staff the support I feel they need to improve conditions for anyone trying to negotiate the perils of hospital.
"My elderly parent"
About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Cardiothoracic Surgery & Transplantation & Ward 4C Fiona Stanley Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgery & Transplantation & Ward 4C Murdoch 6150 Fiona Stanley Hospital / Neurology Department, Neurophysiology Outpatients & Ward 6B Fiona Stanley Hospital Neurology Department, Neurophysiology Outpatients & Ward 6B Murdoch 6150
Posted by jazzdt59 (as ),
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